State of Arkansas Archives: on Crime

Arkansas executed a death-row inmate in the state's fourth lethal injection in eight days, concluding a frantic execution schedule officials said was necessary to carry out death sentences before one of their drugs expired. Journalists said they saw the
inmate, Kenneth Williams, lurching and convulsing during the lethal injection.

Gov. Hutchinson said the executions this month were carried out under the state's protocols, and he dismissed calls for a probe into Williams's execution, saying there were
no indications of pain during any of the lethal injections. "I see no reason for any investigation other than the routine review that is done after every execution," Hutchinson said. After speaking with the Arkansas Department of Correction, "I was
satisfied with the information that I received, and I see nothing that draws questions that would justify anything more than a routine review," Hutchinson said. The governor also said he saw no need to alter the state's execution protocols.

Asa Hutchinson:
Balance public safety with giving a second chance in life

We need to continue looking at our criminal justice system in this state to assure that our incarceration policies are right--
to assure that our policy is balanced between public safety and giving those a second chance in life who have fulfilled their responsibilities to society.

Source: 2017 Arkansas State of the State address
Jan 10, 2017

Curtis Coleman:
No mandatory minimums, but death penalty ok

Q: Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?

Coleman: Yes

Q: Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?

Coleman: Yes

Q: Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?

Coleman: No

Source: Vote Smart Arkansas 2016 Political Courage Test
Sep 1, 2016

Conner Eldridge:
Work with law enforcement to reduce threats of violence

Over the last five years, I've had the honor of serving as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, working closely with our dedicated law enforcement throughout Arkansas--and this experience, along with my time in business,
gives me a unique perspective on what we have to do to create better paying jobs in Arkansas, to make education a top priority and to reduce the threats of violence and abuse that are disrupting our communities.

Mark Swaney:
Eliminate the federal death penalty

Swaney said he is a strong opponent of the death penalty. "When I am elected, I will seek support from other senators and other congressmen for a bill in
Congress to eliminate the federal death penalty," Swaney said.

We warehouse too many people in our prisons, and at our current rate of incarceration, we will need a projected additional $1.1 billion just to supply enough beds for the next decade. The choice will be whether to raise taxes to pay for those beds, or
release potentially dangerous criminals because we have nowhere else to hold them.

Conversations about our corrections system are too often dominated by fear and anxiety. Many discussions end in new laws with harsher sentences and longer prison terms.
To say that the only solution is to take no chances, to lock up non-violent offenders for longer and longer periods of time whatever the cost; to do this is to give up on trying to reform our corrections system and our society.

We must appropriately
punish lawbreakers, but, in some instances, non-violent offenders can repay that debt to society while remaining productive for their families and their communities. If they don't correct their ways, incarceration will always be an option.

Q: Do you support
the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?

A: Yes.

Westerman adds, "I believe we can reduce the need for prisons and correctional programs if we will focus on improving our childhood literacy rate and educational system
as a whole while expanding our economy so that Arkansas can be the 'Land of Opportunity' for all of its citizens. For those who still refuse to abide by the law then we need the best prison system to incarcerate and hopefully correct the offenders."